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The International Policy Forum

Where business
and government meet

The International Policy Forum is a network for businesspeople, diplomats, and academics in Tokyo, holding regular breakfast and lunch meetings on matters of policy interest to businesses in Japan. All events host speakers from Japan's political and administrative elite, are run in both Japanese and English and on an invitation only basis.

If you’d like to attend upcoming IPF events, please register using the webform. GR Japan will then contact you directly regarding your application and attendance at International Policy Forum events.

Coming Events

GR Japan is pleased to welcome Ken Saito, former Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to our latest International Policy Forum (IPF) breakfast meeting. Mr. Saito will share his views on recent free trade agreement developments and negotiations, and the impact they have on the Japanese economy.

Past Events

The “All for All” society How to obtain people’s understanding for a society willing to provide support for all

Dec 12th, 2018

GR Japan is pleased to welcome Seiji Maehara, former Minister of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to our last IPF breakfast meeting of the year. Mr. Maehara will discuss his policies and ideas in the area of redistribution – particularly how to achieve his idea of the “All for All” society, connecting the economy with the social welfare system, and providing support for all by sharing the burden with all. He will also share his views on the current administration’s policy initiatives.

The View from Washington DC - The US Midterm Elections and U.S.-Japan Relations -

Dec 7th, 2018

The November 6 US midterm elections captured remarkable attention, garnering the highest midterm voting rate in more than 100 years. With the Democratic Party taking control of the House of Representatives, a divided Congress will make it difficult for President Trump to move his legislative priorities forward. The Democrats have also promised to investigate the Trump Administration’s alleged malfeasance and corruption. The course of the US government will become even harder to predict.

Hope's Future and Views on the New Abe Administration

Oct 18th, 2018

On Thursday 18 October, GR Japan will host Shigefumi Matsuzawa, newly appointed leader of the Party of Hope, Member of the House of Councilors and former Governor of Kanagawa Prefecture. Mr. Matsuzawa will talk about the Party of Hope’s policy initiatives and his views on the Abe Administration, following Shinzo Abe’s re-election as President of the LDP and the ongoing Cabinet reshuffle.

Reducing Potential Risks - Japan’s Cybersecurity and Defence Policies

Jun 26th, 2018

On 26 June, the International Policy Forum welcomed Sanae Takaichi, former Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and Chair of the Cybersecurity Division of the LDP’s Policy Research Council, to share her insights on the topic of reducing potential risks, including in the realms of defence and cybersecurity. Ms. Takaichi addressed a range of issues, including how the government’s policies are seeking to minimise the cybersecurity risks that people face in their daily lives.

Japan’s finances and the future of social security

Nov 21st, 2017

For our November IPF breakfast, we will invite Mr. Yasuhiro Suzuki, who has been newly appointed to the role of Chief Medical & Global Health Officer of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), in which he oversees all administration under the jurisdiction of the Ministry. Mr. Suzuki will speak about the outlook for social security and next year's concurrent revisions to medical and nursing care compensation.

Prime Minister Abe dissolved the Diet today for a snap election of the House of Representatives, widely expected to take place on 22 October. Abe’s decision comes just weeks after support for his Cabinet hit its lowest levels, after a summer of controversy and scandal. He hoped to catch the opposition off guard, gambling that the bounce in support since his Cabinet reshuffle in early August will see him through the election campaign.

GR Japan had an honor to welcome Mr. Katsunobu Kato, who is the Minister for Working-style Reform, Minister for Promoting Dynamic Engagement of All Citizens, and Minister in Charge of Women's Empowerment, as guest speaker for the International Policy Forum (IPF) on 31 July. The participants enjoyed exchanging views and insights on the work-style reforms and the government's initiatives with Minister.

“Outlook for Japan 2030”

Feb 27th, 2017

On 27 February, GR Japan had the pleasure of hosting Mr. Takao Ochi, State Minister at the Cabinet Office and a Member of the House of Representatives from the Liberal Democratic Party. Mr. Ochi is responsible for the coordination of government policy in a range of areas that are key to Japan’s revitalization and to the success of the government’s economic strategy, including finance, measures to tackle the ageing society and the declining birthrate, and women’s empowerment.

"Information and Communication Technology Policy and the 'My Number' System"

Dec 5th, 2016

GR Japan and the Institute for New Era Strategy are honoured to co-host Sanae Takaichi, Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and a Member of the House of Representatives. Ms. Takaichi will speak about a number of ICT initiatives being developed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), including the My Number system. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear Japan’s top policy-maker in the field of ICT. The event will be held on Monday, 5 December 2016. Please note that the meeting will be held from 5:30pm, instead of our usual breakfast time.

"Vision of the Future - What Digital Nippon 2016 Attains"

Sep 27th, 2016

Please join us in welcoming Takuya Hirai, Chairman of the Special Mission Committee on IT Strategy for the LDP, as guest speaker for our second International Policy Forum (IPF) in September. The Japan Revitalization Strategy 2016 released in June relies heavily technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, Big Data and IoT to drive economic growth and restore the nation's global competitiveness. Come hear about the legislative proposal Mr.